Insulated rail-joint.



R. W. SMITH. L Vl'. P. THGMSGN,

INSULATED RAIL JOINT.

APPLwM ION FILED AUG.

6 MEETS-SHEET 2.

3fm/m2114014 R. W. SMITH & W.V.-TH0MS0N.

INSULATBD RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1914. 1,126,112.

s SHEETSTSBEBT 5.

l; if. 1 ze 1,-! www l; n l Z l', l, m4/trou Patented Jan-26, 1915.

E. W. SMTH 6L WP. THGMSON. wauwau RAIL JOINT.

l APPLICATION FILED AUG.4,1914. L12, H29 Y Patentgd Jan. 26, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

milite@ REUBEN W. Sli/HTH, OF WEST CGLlNG'SW'OOCf, NEW JERSEY,

THOMSON, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., SSIGNGBS TQ THE lfli JNT GAN i.. NEW YORK. N. Y., A CORPORATXON Ofi? YQ-L,

Specification of Letters Eutent.

Patented den, 26,

Application led August Il. wie. Serial lo. 851.9%..

sulated ruil joints, and incre particulariy to those having the structural und functional rlnirecteristics of the well-known -Weber type of insulated ruil joint.

Accordingly, it is the general purpose and object ot' the present invention to provide certain novel and practical features of iinprovement which possess special utility in their application to zininsuloted reil joint oi' the type wherein the rail ends are supported by a steel shoe angle having e. reilsupporting buse plate, and en upright niemher nt its outer edge which constitutes si holting plete tor the outside 0I the joint, in combination with wooden or equivalent iiller members arranged at both-sides of the rails.

To this end. n distinctive object of the in vention is to provide en improved construction und arrangement ot parts, so related to the shoe :ingle und theI other nieinoers ci the joint, es to provide thoroughly practical and e'liectunl ineens wherehjY the joint parts niey he more iirnily secured together .and to the rails, thus providing :i stiffer and stronger joint structure giving.;n substantiel support to the rziil ends under load. Tn this connection. the invention has specially in view n construction which. positively and re- .lizihlv assists in holding the ruil-supporting leise plete against the buses of the rails, not unl)v :it the outside oi2 the joint but also et the inside of the joint, so that the ruil ends under truiiic mov he prevented troni respending to the tendency of mov-ing upwardly und independently, to en v apprei'inble extent. oit the he. r plete. ln other words, the present invention proposes n construction :ii'ording n direct und rigid supporting:r connection between the inner free edge portion oi' the hase plete of the shoe and a reinforcing angle, thereby securing o'inexinunn rail-supporting eii'ect for the base ple-te and preventing,` straining and and cutting and meshing out th loes-e insulating plate which ordinarily results troni failure to maintain e uniform road. bearing against ll of the under ieee of the rail hase.

Another important object ot' the present invention is to provide wnet may he termed :i closedsin insuieted rail joint, that is to soy, n joint wherein thefinsuietion within the joint is eiectiveljT covered und inclosed in such e manner that dirt. cinders, water, and other destructive foreign substances are eiliectuollv excluded from the interior of the joint und prevented Afrom penetrating hetween the surfaces shove and below the bese weekening ci the various parts or 'the joint,

p 0I e insulating plate, and thereby creating e disv integrating and destructive eiiiec't upon the insuie ion on account of the @haring end pounding movements the recil ends thereupon.

11i. 'further object of the invention is te provide simple end positive ineens for loclz ing the insulation of the joint to overcome any tendency of the bese insiiileting plete to creep or work out et piece longitudinely und laterally under treiiic, end connection with the insulating` feature ot the joint the invention also contemplates n construction whereby the insulating parts niejv he reediiy removed and replaced without dismantling the joint. i

further ohj ect of the invention is to proe vide o simple and prectioel ineens for utilizing e single'reiniorcing member in joints for use with several sizes and heights of rails.

lilith these and other objects in View which iviil he epperent to those familiar with this ert, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and rangement of ports hereineit incre tulljv described, illustrated, and cieirned.

Though susceptible of modification in a variety of forros and structures Without departing Aroni the purport und intent 0in' the invention, e.. few the preiierred and practical embodiments of the letter ere shown in the :iccoinpnijing drawings, in which- Figure l is an end view of en insulated reil joint of the general lVeber type embodying improvements contemplated hy. the pres ent invention. 2 is e top plein View of maarre is preferably placed near the longitudinal center or" the joint so as to occupy a position between the ties, hut if desired, it is obvious that a plurality of these bolts may he uti- 5 lined at other locations throughout the length of the joint.

In v an insulated rail joint of the type shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the insulating means therefor include the opposite Wooden or equivalent filler members 5 and 6, the usual insulating end post 15a, conventional or other suitable bolt insulation 14 for the head and nut portions of the joint holts, and also an insulating plate l for the 15/hases of the rails, said insulating plate being interposed between the rail baises and the upper side of the railsupporting hase plate 2 of the shoe angle'. This hase insulating plate extends the full width of the rail bases.

2o and, as shown, projects beyond the edges of the rail flanges in order to provide complete and effectual hase insulation for the joint. ln this connection, a detail of construction which is of practical importance is the-few ture forming the wooden or equivalent filler members 5 and 6 at the lower outer corners thereof with shielding` lips 16. which overhang the edges of the rail flanges and extend down to the projecting edge portions se of the insulating plate 15, so as to more efiectuallv protect and cover the latter and provide an insulated rail joint which is strictly of the closed-in type in the sense that the insulatin y hase plate is wholly and es cntirelycovered, with the result of excluding dirt, cinders, water, and other destructive foreign substances therefrom.

lt has been found desirable to provide vmeans for positiwal);r overcoming, any tenddo cnc); of the insulating hase plate l5 to creep or work out of place longitudinally and laterally under tralic. In order to acconn plish this desirable result, a suitable locking means is provided tor the said hase insulating plate. These locking; means may he variously arranged, and are susceptible o considerahle modification without departing from thel essential thought of the invention with respect thereto, but referring iirst to 5o that forni of the locking' means illustrated in l and 2 of the drawings, it will he observed that the "saine include what may he termed a holding shiin l? consisting of a metal plate clamped irnily in position hetween the inner edge portion of the rail sup- 'porting .hase plate 2 and the under side of footI flange 8 of the holting angle 7. This holding shim may he provided at its outer edge with a hent-down retaining oo llange llt which overlaps the inner edge of the plate to prevent the shini from displacement when only one holt is used. '.lheshiin is provided at its inner edge with one or niore rentrant keeper moltises or e5 recesses 18 which. receive and interlock' with projectinv locking tenons 19 formed at one edge portion of the hase insulating plate l5. rllhe holding shim l?, as shown, is of suo stantially the saine thickness as the hase in sulating plate l and is provided w'th a large clearance hole 191 receiving the clamping bolt 9a so that the saine maj7 be readily adjusted longitudinallj7 in conjunction with the hase insulating plate i5.

he construction above described and illustrated in Figs. l and Q of the drawings exemplifies the essential features of the invention. lt will he observed that the saine provides an effectual means whereby the various parts of the joint are firmly and securely clamped together and to the rail ends. Furthermore, as alrcadj7 pointed out. the improved structure described eiiiectivelv covers and inc-.loses the hase insulation or" the joint so that the entrance of destructive foreign substances is prevented. falso. the worn out piece of hase insulation can he i l:ulilv rcmoved and replaced hy simply loosening the joint parts and removing the holdingj shim and its clamping' holt, leaving all other parts in place to therehv afford track; whereas in usual ordinarily necessaiwv 'to dismantle the "ntire joint to remove and replace insulation, thus rendering the track temporarily unsafe for trailic.

As alreadynoted. various modifications oi the different features of the invention mayv he emjiloyed and still eilcctually perform the intended functions thereof. For instance.y as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4' of the drawings, there is shown a construction especiali)v a vailahle where the reinforcing `Q'irder holting angle is to he employed with a higher rail and shoe anglo than in the torni of joint shown in Fig. l oi' the drawtvpes of joints, it

lings. That is to say. according to the modification illustrated in ,fl and of the drawings. it will he understood that the upright shoe angle and the rail are higher than in the joint illustrated in l. hut the lfgird'er holtingr angle 7 remains the same height. sitates the use oi" a thicker sliini than that slwwn in Fig'. l ot' the drawings. the thicker shim heine' designated li): the reference numher llt in 3 of the drawings. ln connection with this modification. it will he readily understood that different heights ol" rails and shoe angles require (ilifferent thick nesses of shinis. and by using the described construction, a 'large nulnlier or holting' angles may he made up and kept in stock preparatory to 'use with joints .for rails and shoe angles ot varying heights. v

fliccordiner to the modification shown iu Figs. 3 and l of the drawings. the locking of the base insulating plate l5 may he ei"- fected by ineens ot a single lockingT tenen 19 loca-ted at or near the center of the joint .\ccor1linglj'. this situation neces-- safe/t)Y to the and interlocking with n single rentrnnt der the leaving rail.

mortise or recess '18 formed in the inner edge Vof the shim 'HV (See l? ig. El.) Also, the modifications of Figs. 3 and 4 suggest the expedient of employing n plurality of olempv ing bolts 9 having beveled head portions 20, lying Within. oountersunli. seats 21 formed in the underside of the rail. supporting base plete 2, thereby disposing the heads of the bolts 9*L entirely out of the way so that the sinne muy be located dir'eotly over the ties without interfering with the letter and with ont the neoessity of recessing or gouging the ties to aoomniodnte the Vholt heads. y

y lll/Thil@ n distinctive feature of the present invention resides in 'the rigid clamping oon neotion between the inner edge portion olf the rail supporting bese plete and the glider holting ongle, und the locking means for securing `tlie bese insulation against creen ing or displacement in nny direction', t e several details of oonstiuotion involv .i therein are susceptible ite e Wide runde ot modification, some ol' w iicli modificatie :ire of practical importance by reason o (.fontrihuting added features and i'unctiontl 'to the joint. This is very well exemplilied by the Inodiieation shown Yligs. 5, 6 and 'T of the drawings wherein the metal holding shim, designated by the reference numlier llnot only performs the functions of n solid metal blocking between the girder boltin'g angle 7 and the base plete 2 and es holding means for locking the bose insulw tion in place, but also is utilized in combinetion with the base insulating plete to 'form :L one end insulated rail joint. As shown this is 'accomplished by having the Inetnl 'shim 1T in strip or ber form for substantially onelmlf of the length of' the "joint, While for the other lin-lf of the joint, the shim is extended laterally to provide e Wide railsenting iiser-plate underlying the receiving rnil of the joint, and thereby aoting es n' compensating metal filler of the 15 Within the insulated end of the joint unf In this modifico-tion oi'- the invention, the strip or bei' portion of the shim 17h is formed with :i koepel.u mortise l@ for the locking tenon 19 on the insulating plate, as and for the purpose already described, and likewise in this modification one` or more coupling bolts,l are utilized for rigidly clamping the girder bolting angle sind metal shim to the inner' edge portion of the brise plate.

Still referring to the range of modifica-- Ytion that may be resorted to in the construction and use of the metal holding shim, reference is mode .to the construction and or" rangement oi ports shown in 'Fig'. 8 of the drawings, wherein the motel holding shim, designated by the reference. number 17" lies one edge portion thereof *folded upon itzli?,

' hose plete blocking between. the girdor bolting ongle 7 end the bose plete, the folded edge portieri having formed therein a keeper mortise 18 -for receiving the looking tenon 19 of the hose insuletingplete, the-relay onrryi g out the fnnetion of locking the heee insu ation in nlace in substantially the meunier alf ready described. But, in addition to the tolded ed e portion 52B, the modified metal holding' slim. 17 islnternlly widened to provide e supportin plete extension 24 which lies between. tin upper side of the 5E: ond. the um ide of the base insulating 'plete it ts idge opposite the :folded edge port' in oid modified holding shim lT ni 'l1 e, guiding l 25 to `liicilitem the ii artion of the into the joint beneetli the hose insnlnt of the imetionul l foto: of coin I. the drawings, verstimid t those #familier with if this olnnnotor that after the ont .osileting plato lies been subjected to henvy loads, it is liable to become compressed under the ruil bese, leaving u raised shoulder et the 'Joint indionted'by the letter S. This shoulder renders the withdrawal of the insulation rather diioult Without disturbing the rails or the shoe angle, but in the construction referred to :ind illustrated in Fg. 8 by first entirely removing the shim 17 this difficulty .is avoided, since ample room 'will then be allowed for the insulating plate to drop down and ermit the, shoulder to elem.- the rail bese. Venen placing an insulating plete in. position et the time of ini.a tie-ily assembling the joint, or when renewals nre made, the guiding bevel 225i et `one edge of the shim facilitates the lutter heing easily' 'foi-ceo under the insulating plate 15 withont damaging the latter.

A structural variation of the modification illustrated in Fig. 8 is shown lin Fi 9 of the drawings, and consists in provi in a. :modified shim 17 having a. double folded edge portion 23* which constitutes the solid .metal hlockinghetw'een the gil-derboltingv :ingle 7 andthe raiLsupporting base plate,

said double folded edge portion. forming an 'fentures'ol thc form, of construction shown 4 in Fig. ll are the sinne es prevail in the modification shown in Fig ings.

With further reference to the modifications in the forni. und use of the metal holding shim, n. :torni of tinted 1n Fig. "lll of the separate nietnl support :g

S of the drawinsulating plate l5.

messie ranged beneath the base insulating plate and is coextensive in width with the rail supporting base plate This supporting shim is associated with a separate metal holding shim 17d placed between the girder bolting angle T and the edge portion of the shim 25 which overlies the inner edge portion of the base plate 2, and is provided with the keeper mortise 18 receiving the locking tenen 19 of the insulating plate. Also, in this modified construction, the in side edge of the supporting shim, within the joint, is provided with an upturned retaining shoulder 26 overlapping an edge of the insulating plate l5, thereby forming a means for forcibly withdrawing the insulating base plate l5l throughv the medium of the shim 25. i

ln some-forms ofthe invent-ion, the holding shim may bel entirely dispensed with and still preserve the features ot the rigid clamping connection between the inner edge poi" tion of the base plate and the girder bolting angle, the covering and inclosing of the base insulating pla-te troni destructive VEorci gn substances, and the locking of the base insulationv against creeping or displacement. This phase of the invention is exemplified bv the group ot' Figs. ll to li' inclusive. ificcording to the forni of the invention shown in Figs. 11 andA l2 of the drawings, the girder bolting angle 7 may bc bolted directly upon the inner edge portion of the base plate i2, and has formed in its lower inner edge the keeper inortise 18 to receive the locking tenon 19 provided at the edge of the base ,i variation of this orni of construction may consist in forming he keeper recess 18h at the inside corner of slioc angle in the upright member 3 f of. and this torni oi construction is ,ed in Figs. 13, le, l5, i6 and l? of wings. lt simply involves locating more keeper mortises at the junction right and the base ot the shoe angle in the shim or girdor bolting anown in Figs. ll and 12, and other .,the dra 'ings rlhe keeper morl wn in Figs. i3 and lff, may be eonveni 'formed in a horizontal position by a ling cutter. This keeper mortise may again be varied as shown at 13C, in Figs. l5, 16 :nul li" of the drawings wherein Said mortise is disposed vertically instead of horizontally a:` shown in Figs 123 and 3.4-, the saine being formed by milling cutter. 'lenons 132, may be *formed on the insulating base plate to appropriately interlock with the said keeper inortises.

Various other modifications and forms of construction may he resorted to without materially altering or allfecting the salient teatures of the invention, as for instance, the

tise lL insulating base plate mayrest directly upon the base of the shoe angle and on top thereof may be av metal plate or plates protecting the insulating plate from the abrasive action of the rail, said plate or plates not extending longitudinally beyond the rail ends. construction is substantially the saine as, butI is the reversal of the construction shown in the group of Figs. 8,' 9 and 1G.

Since these and otherichanges in the lform and arrangement of parts will be obvious to those familiar with the art, further detail illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. Accordingly, it is believed that the important and distinctivefeatures of the present invention will now be thoroughly appreciated and understood without further description.

lll/le claim:

l. A rail joint including, in combination with a shoe angle, opposite filler members. joint bolts, and a clamping member consisting of an angle plate held against one of the filler members by the oint bolts and rigidlf,T bolted to the inner edge portion of the shoe angle hase.

A rail joint including, in combination with ai shoe angle, opposite filler members, and the joint bolts extending through the filler members and the upright member of the shoe angle, an inside clamping niember consisting of an angle plate held to one ot' the filler members by the joint bolts and rigidly bolted to the inner edge portion oi' the shoe angle hase.

3. .l rail joint including, in combination with a shoe angle, oppositely arranged filler members and the joint bolts connecting the same, a clamping member consisting of an angle plate having an upright bolting flange held to one ot the ller members by the joint bolts` and a lower horizontal toot flange overlying the i nner edge portion of the shoe angle base, and a couplingr bolt passed through said foot flange and slice angle base.

fl. rail joint including, in combination with a shoe angle, oppositely arranged filler members and joint bolts connecting these parts, a. clamping` angle held against one of the filler members by the joint bolts and also overlying the inner edge portion of the shoe angle base, a coupling bolt arranged to i-.lampingly connect said clamping angle with the shoe angle base, and a nut lock element engaged with the said clamping angle and also with the nut of the bolt.

A rail joint including, in combination with the rails, a shoe angle carrying a rigid member having a locking element, and a base insulating plate having `an interlocking enga gement with said locking element.

G; A rail joint including, in combination with the rails, a shoe angle carrying a rigid member having a mortise, and a base insulatingl plate having a tenon interlocking with said inortise. V

7i rail joint including, in combination ico with the rutile, e shoe angle cerrying e rigid member having e. keeper lnortieedispoeed inside oi' the joint,A und en insuletmg plate having e locking teflon interlocking with .ber engaged by the joint festenings und bolted to the inner edge portion of the shoe angle base, e holding shim clamped be tween seid clamping member and the shoe angle base, and :t bese insulating plete sepnrebly interlocked with Seid holding shim.

10. A. rail joint including, in combination with the rails, e shoe angle, oppositely er ranged filler members and the oint festenings, e clamping member engaged by the joint fasteninge and bolted to the inner edge portion of the :shoe angle buse, u motel hold lng shim interposed between the clamping member und the shoe angle bese, Seid shim having e widened portionforming a ruilseatin riser plete underlying the leaving ruil o the joint, and. u bueeinsuleting plete underl ing the receiving rail of the joint.

11. with the raiis, e shoe en le, oppositely erranged filler members en the joint fasten-- ings, e clamping member engaged. by the joint festeninge und bolted to the inner edge portion of the shoe angle base, u metal holding shim interposed between the clamping member and the shoe :ingle buse, seid shim having u widened portion forming a. reilseatin riser plete underlying the leaving ra-il o the joint, und e buse insulating plete underlying the receiving ruil of 'the joint and inter-locked with the shim.

1Q. A rail joint including, in combination 4with the rails, e Shoe angle, oppositely erranged liller members und the joint fasten' ings, a. clamping member engaged by the joint fastenings and bolted to the inner edge ortion of the shoe angle busen metul holdlng shim interposed between the clamping member' und the shoe ongle heee, seid shim having u widened portion forming e ruil ruil joint including, in colnbinution l niedrig seating riser plate underlying the leaving rail of thejoint, and a. base insulating plate underlying the Vreceiving rail of the joint and se' erably interloeked with the shim.

13. rail joint including, in combination with the rails, a shoe angle, opposite ller members, und the joint lbolts, an angle r clamping plate held to the inside filler member by the joint bolts, a bolted connection between the foot flange of said clam ing member e' d the inner edge portion o the shoe angle se, e metul holding shim interposed between said foot iienge and the shoe angle buse end )rovided with a laterally widened portion Vorming a reibseating riser plate of a length substantially equal to onehelf of the length of the joint and underlying the leaving rail end therein, and an insulating plete underlying the receiving lend within the joint and having en interlocked eonnection with the shim( l 14. A rail j bint-including, in combination with the mils, u shoe angle, and a. separate 'vertically adjustable girder member ha e rigid. clamping connection with the shoe ungle buse.

l5. A reil joint including, in combination with the rails, a shoe angle, opposite fillers, and e separate `vertically adjustable girder member arranged et the inside of thejoint having a rigid clamping connection with the shoe engle'bese.

16. A ruil joint including, in combination with the rails, u shoe angle, a rigid girder member, und means for rigidly clamping a member of varying thickness between said girder member und the shoe angle base.

17. A ruil joint including, in combination with the rails, u girder bolting member and means for clamping shilns of various thicknesses between the base member and said girder member.

18. A. reil joint including, in combinationwith the rails, u. shoe angle carryin a rigid girder member and means beneath t e latter for adjusting the height of Suid rigid girder member.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto aiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses. j c

REUBEN lV. SMITH. WILLIAlVI l). THOMSON. 'vi/Yitnesses for Reuben VJ. Smith:

HARVEY E. SMITH, "I. D. Drr'rMAN. ltfitneeees for lll/"mu l). Thomson:

liens'. il/onrninmniu l F. Soi-munnmioun.

loo 

